Car-ventilator.



A m, mama. Patented Oct. 16, 1900.

J. CLARKE.

CAR VENTILATOR.

(Application filed Mar. 21, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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JOHN CLARKE, OF ORANGEVILLE, CANADA.

CAR VENTILATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,046, dated October 16, 1900. Application filed March 21, 1900: Serial No. 9,646. (No model.)

To all who/2t it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN CLARKE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Orangeville, in the county of Dufferin and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Ventilation; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is in a simple, positive, and efficient manner to effect preservation of perishable matter without the use of ice and obviating objectionable desiccation.

The invention consists in the combination of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated a form of embodiment of my invention, it being understood that other forms of embodiment thereof may be employed without departing from the spirit of the same, and in the drawings- Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of a car fitted with devices applicable thereto to effect my purpose. Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. is a sectional view in perspective of the rear portion of the car shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. a is a view in perspective, exhibiting a slightlymodified form of arrangement of car-floor from that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and Fig. 5 is a view in sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, exhibiting in detail the various parts of one of the intake devices, showing the pipe projecting into the space between the two floors and the valve at its discharge'mouth; and Fig. 6 is a view in sectional elevation, exhibiting the diiferent parts of one of the ejectors.

The air-intake device in the embodiment shown, being revoluble and thus wind-controlled, is automatically operative irrespective of the direction in which the air-current may be moving-that is to say, whether the movement of the air-current be in the direction and operation of the outtake as an ejector.

device and by the cooperative arrangement of the intake and outtake the very slightest current of air will be effective in causing a draft through the preserving-chamber.

The all-important feature of my invention is that by a supply of air greater than the discharge a constant pressure may be maintained in any chamber with permeation or dilfusion of the air and enhanced preserving action thereof by its concentration, while at the same time should the supply be cut off for a time from any cause there may, owing to the fact that the air is under pressure, still be escape and movement through the chamber. To effect this pressure or the crowding of airinto the chamber in the example shown, the intake is made of much greater capacity than the outtake employed. As a result of practical tests extending over quite a period of time it has been demonstrated that the proportion between the intake and the outtake should be from three to five of the for mer to one of the latterthat is to say, the

combined areas of the intake-mouths should however, that I do not confine myself to this particular form of car, as one specially adapted for the transportation of any kind of perishable matter may be constructed and still be within the scope of my invention. In these figures, A designates the ordinary floor of the car; A the sides; A the ends; A, the roof, and A the monitor roof. As these parts may be of any preferred or usual construction, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. Upon suitable longitudinal bearers a, secured to or resting upon the floor A, is placed an open-slatted floor A Figs. 1 and 2, or in lieu of this slatted floor an additional board floor AT, provided with register-grates d may be employed, as shown in Fig. 4:. The bearers a are of such height that the open-slatted floor A or the grated floor A, as the case may be, is raised sufficiently high above the ordinary floor to afford requisite space between the two floors to present clear and continuous fresh-air passages 6L3. -Within the passage 0. terminate the lower inward-curved ends I) of the freshair-snpply pipes B, which may be of the same diameter throughout their length or be reduced toward their lower ends, the upper ends of which project through the car-roof A and carry revoluble cowls b which,with the supply-pipes,alford air intake or feed devices. As shown in detail in Fig. 5, each cowl comprises a neck portion b housed within the pipe. B, and a horizontally facing flaring mouth 12 which is undercut to preclude entrance of rain, snow, &c., and is covered with a fine-wire screen b A continuation of the mouth of the cowl is formed by a rim b cut away below or perforated at b to form an outlet for cinders, &c.., the mouth of this rim being covered by another wire screen 17 preferably somewhat coarser than the inner one 19 Securedwithin the lower portion of the neck of each cowl is'a spider I)", through a central opening in which passes a vertical spindle b having one end attached to the cowl and the other end journaled in a hearing 1), held by a spider b, fixed to the pipe B. As shown, the cowls are located near the ends A of the car, and this will generally be their preferred position; but they may be placed intermediately of the ends of the car or otherwise and when so disposed will operate with the requisite efficiency. The back of the cowl is provided with a vane b, opposite the center of the mouth 5 and occupying a vertical plane, thus to operate in the well known manner to present the mouth squarely to the inrushing current of air and hold it always to windward. A flange b on the neck of the cowl covers the upper edge of the pipe B and forms a closed joint between the two to preclude entrance of rain and dust, in addition to which function it may also perform that of a support for the cowl. This flange may be straight or may be downwardly turned and overhanging, as shown in Fig. 5. The pipe B may be provided with one or more hand-holes normally-covered by a slide I2 whereby access to the spindle b may be had, and a damper Z7 is also provided for the purpose of regulating the passage of air through the pipe.

As a means for preventing any escape of air through the intake when the car is stopped due to the pressure of the confined air, antomaticallyoperating means may be employed to cause an escape of air through the outtake when the motion of the car is stopped, thus to keep up the discharge of air described. The means here shown consist of an ordinary flap or gravity valve b hinged to the upper side of the discharge end of each intake-pipe B, this end of each pipe being preferably undercut, as at I), whereby to cause the valve normally to hang free of the mouth, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, so that if only aslight currentot' air is stirring there will be a pro jection of air into the car, while under a strong incoming current of air this valve will be forced upward and held in practically a horizontal plane, thus entirely freeing the mouth of the intake-pipe. Now should the car stop and there be no "current of external air the tendency of the confined air will be to escape through the intake, which on account of its greater size as compared with the outtake would afford the freer means of exit; but this will be prevented by the valves 6 which by the pressure of confined air will close against the discharge-mouths of the intake-pipes, and thus prevent escape of air therethrcngh.

Mounted on the monitor roof of the car is a series of revoluble cowls 0, which operate as ejectors and constitute, with their dischargepipes, air outtake or exhaust devices. As shown in detail in Fig. 6, each of these cowls comprises a neck portion housed within a short pipe 0, secured to the carroof, and a horizontally-facing flaring mouth 0 which is undercut in substantially the same manner and for the same purpose as that of the mouth of the cowls Z2 and is preferably covered by a wire screen. (Not shown.) These cowls (J are much smaller than the oowls b in order to afford a choke and pressure in the chamber, so that when the car is in motion or when brought to a sudden standstill there will always be a continuous outgoing current of air from the outtake. Experiments demonstrate that the proportion between intake and the outtake should be from three to five of the former to one of the latter. It is to be understood, however, that these proportions may be increased or diminished without departing from the spirit of my invention. The cowls O are also wind-controlled and by preference unvaned, although they may be vaned in front, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereby in either instance they are caused to face away from the direction of movement of the current of air and be held always to leeward. The pipe 0 carries two spiders 0 holding bearings 0 in which is journaled a spindle 0 having its upper end secured to the top portion of the cowl and its intermediate portion supported by a spider c at the lower portion of the neck. The downturned'l'lange c on the neck of the cowl covers the upper edge of the pipe and forms a closed joint between the two to preclude entrance of rain, dust, snow, the, in addition to which function it may also perform that of a support for the cowls. With the lower end of the pipe 0 is combined ahit-and-miss valve 0 by which to control the escape of air from the cowls G.

A feature of this invention which distinguishes it in the art is that, taken with the fact that the intake-cowls always mouth in the direction of any outside air impinged against or impinging and the ejector-cowls always mouth in the opposite direction and the intake and outtake are thus always mutually coactive, the relative capacities of the intake and outtake are so proportioned that in operation there will always be a supply of air under pressure in the preserving-chamber, while under action of the outtake there will always be movement of the air therein.

The large feathered arrows show the direction of movement of the car, and the smaller plain arrows show the direction of movement of the air-currents after entering the car and on their exit. The fresh-air currents entering at the floor pass up through the interstices of the slatted floor or through the grates or registers a and upward and out through the ejectors C, carrying off the vitiated air and any gases that may have been generated. To obtain the proper 'e't't'ect, all doors and windows and other openings in the car should be closed tightly. In the transportation of fresh fruit the air circulates through and around it and a considerable cooling will result without any other agency than rapid change of air, and tests have demonstrated that fruit thus carried is preserved in much better form after long transportation than where ice or other artificial refrigerating means is employed.

An idea of the pressure of air confined within the car may be formed from the fact that when the car is moving at the rate of thirty miles an hour or more if twenty pounds of weight be placed against the outside of the car-door, the same opening outward, and a lock-latch be released the door will be blown violently open against the pressure of the opposed weight.

While not shown herein, it is to be understood that instead of having the car a single structure internally it may be divided up into chambers or spaces by partitions.

Having thus fully described my invention, whai I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination with a chamber, of an air-intake device and an air-outtake device, the capacity of the intake being greater than that of the outtake, and causing pressure within the chamber, and the intake being constructed always to mouth toward outside air impinged against or impinging, and the outtake being constructed always to month in diametrically the opposite direction to the intake, that is to say, away from the air impinged against or impinging, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a chamber, of an air-intake device discharging into the lower part and an air-outtake device discharging from the upper part of the chamber, the capacity of the intake being greater than that of the outtake, causing pressure within the chamber, the intake being constructed always to mouth toward outside air impinged against or impinging, and the outtake being constructed always to mouth in diametrically the opposite direction to the intake, that is to say, away from the air impinged against or impinging, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a chamber, of an air-intake device and an air-outtake device, the intake device being of capacity greater than that of the outtake device, and the intake device consisting of an air-supply pipe or of air-supply pipes, having the upper extremity provided with a revoluble, vaned cowl, or with revoluble, vaned cowls, causing the intake, in operation, to mouth, at all times, toward outside air impinged against or impinging, and the outtake device consisting of a pipe, or of pipes, having the upper extremity provided with a revoluble cowl, or with revoluble cowls, in operation mouthing, at all times, in direction opposite to that taken by the intake, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

at. The combination with a chamber having a double floor, with openings in the upper portion thereof, of an air-intake device and an air-outtake device, the intake device being of capacity greater than that of the outtake device, the intake device consisting of an air-supply pipe, or of air-supply pipes, having the upper extremity provided with a revoluble, vaned cowl, or with revoluble, vaned cowls, causing the intake, in operation, to mouth, at all times, toward outside air impinged against or impinging, and having its lower extremity projecting into the space between the two iloors, and the outtake device consisting of a pipe, or of pipes, having the upper extremity provided with a revoluble cowl, or with revoluble cowls, in operation mouthing, at all times, in direction opposite to that assumed by the intake and having its lower extremity leading from the top of the chamber, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a chamber, of an air-intake and an air-outtake device, the intake device being of capacity greater than IIO that of the outtake device, mouthing, at all times toward outside air impinged against or impinging, discharging into the lower part of the chamber, and having an automaticallyoperating valve to prevent back draft, and the air-outtake device mouthing, at all times, in a direction diametrically opposite to that of the intake device and discharging from 

